After having created the Neurobiology and Psychiatry Laboratory at France’s Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Dr. Giros came to the Douglas Hospital Research Centre in 2007. He is interested in characterizing the neurobiology of schizophrenia and in developing improved genetic animal models of this illness.
More than one percent of the population is affected by schizophrenia, a mental illness characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disturbances in thinking. Although the causes have yet to be fully characterized, two neurotransmitter (chemicals that transmit information between neurons in the brain) systems have been implicated. These systems, the dopamine and glutamate pathways, have been the focus of Dr. Giros’ research. He has been a pioneer in the molecular characterization, cloning, and study of these neurotransmitters and depicting their role in schizophrenia. He has also developed the first genetic mouse models that link these molecules to integrated brain functions and mimic certain types of psychosis. Dr. Giros’ current studies will bring together both fundamental research and clinical needs and focus on the molecular networks of dopamine and glutamate receptors and transporters. These studies will lead to a better understanding of the key neurotransmitter systems involved in schizophrenia and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.